The renovation of the new Knightsville Park is right on track and the opening celebration is scheduled for July 8th starting at 5 p.m.

Plans for the park, at the intersection of Cranston Street and Phenix Avenue, were first brought before the city council in 2019. Now, just three years later, the park is nearing completion and Chief of Staff Anthony Moretti said the city is excited to throw an official opening celebration for the park.

“The project is on budget, on time, and it’s been a seamless process amongst the city and the contractor,” Moretti said. “The weather certainly cooperated. They worked substantially through the winter to have this park done on time. They’re just finalizing their work and doing final touch ups before the city does its walk through and develops any punch list items.”

For those unaware, a punch list is a document that details any remaining work that must be done before a construction project is considered completed. Moretti said that he feels the project has actually exceeded expectations in terms of the beauty and functionality, and that the park will well serve the purpose for which it was intended.

Tower Construction, who was awarded the project, worked hard through the winter to keep the project on time and on budget, Moretti said. He said that the process and communication between Tower Construction and the city was seamless, which helped to keep the project on schedule.

Director of Economic Development Franklin Paulino said that he believes this project has been on the receiving end of a lot of care and focus from the city and the Hopkins administration. The attraction of people to the area for business is high on the list of his hopes for the parks effect on the area. Paulino also looks forward to the premier of the four to five minute trailer of a documentary about the history of Knightsville by Cranston Resident Bernadette Conte, which he hopes will be ready to show at the park's opening ceremony. 

“That intention has always been to influence the quality of life of the residents of Knightsville, and Cranston, along with providing economic opportunities to attract people to the small businesses and restaurants in the area,” Moretti said. “We feel that this park is really achieving the intention of what this project set out to do.”

Moretti said that, rather than just having a simple ribbon cutting on July 8, in the spirit of enabling the park as a community gathering place they will have a traditional ribbon cutting starting at 5 p.m. followed by a band concert into the evening by the Reggie Centracchio Quintet, featuring retired Lieutenant Gen. Reginald A. Centracchio.

“We want to kick it off that day as a celebration for all the residents and businesses,” Moretti said. “So, we are inviting, in a mass invitation, for all the residents of Knightsville and Cranston to come out and enjoy the ceremony along with the concert.”

Some of the key invited guests are Senator Jack Reed, former Representative James Langevin, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Seth Magaziner. At the time of speaking with Moretti, he only knew of a confirmation from Reed, though hopes all those invited will have the ability to attend.

“It’s a wonderful way to show the state and the delegation our accomplishments, but also as a way to show our appreciation to them for our receiving grant funding from them, both federal and state,” Moretti explained. “So, it’s a celebration of their efforts as well as our accomplishments.”